This is the first post in a new category called THESIS. Although our thesis projects will not officially begin until the end of April, we have spent the past week getting introduced to this project through brainstorming, first as a group and then individually. We have also spent the week getting inspired (or scared or confused) through visits by five Interaction Designers here in Copenhagen. Each one was a graduate from the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea and presented hir or her thesis project, process, learning and answered our questions. Their projects were indeed inspiring but also intimidating as they had a year devoted to their thesis while we only have 4 months.
Anyway, we ended this week by submitting a general statement of intent. Here is mine:
I want my thesis to …
I would like to strike a balance between strong technological innovation and a clearly defined user context. I would like my thesis to unmistakably be the work of an Interaction Designer.
Also: Provide a strong portfolio piece relevant for finding a job, address a socially pertinent subject, meet the needs of a specific user group, explore an emerging technological platform, place more emphasis on a system or service than object and hopefully have the potential for a life beyond September!
I’m interested in/inspired by…
In terms of people, I would be interested in exploring the needs of adults with developmental disabilities or disadvantaged people in Cambodia. I have a strong support network and personal experience with each group and believe they are both rich with interesting challenges. Most importantly, they would inspire me on a personal level.
Technological platforms I would be interested in using are the mobile web, XO laptop, embedded sensors & real time data, networked objects and gestural interfaces.
Thematically I am interested in looking at high tech systems in rural or underdeveloped areas. Also how technology can support autonomy, spontaneity and mobility while also strengthening relationships, personal networks and communication.
Two student projects I have been recently inspired by are Pigeon (service that allows people with limited technology to stay in touch over long distances) and Intocontext (system for entrepreneurs in Africa to upload their profiles directly to kiva.org via multi media text messaging). Each of these projects make use of existing systems, were based on user insights and place the emphasis on a technology enabled service as opposed to device. They are also designed for user groups that technology is not often designed for.
During my thesis I would like to challenge myself in…
I would like to challenge myself not just in areas that need improvement (i.e. sketching, physical prototyping and computer programming) but also in areas I am particularly interested in pursuing on a professional level. These include user research, concept visualization and early design stages (information architecture, system diagrams, etc.).
My comfort zone and what I want to explore outside my comfort zone looks like…
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